One crucial element of any successful organization is to ensure younger members are prepared and educated to assume leadership roles. This was the basic premise behind the formation of the Sarasota Young Realtors® group in January 2007.
The SAR Strategic Plan lists as Goal 2 the creation of a program “to identify and train new leaders,” and establishes as one of the strategies to “establish a Young Realtors® group within SAR.”
Thanks to SAR members Dave Beachy and Anthony Homer, chair and vice-chair of the newly formed Sarasota Young Realtors® group, that strategy has been enacted. The group has now met several times and held a few successful social gatherings and networking sessions, designed to grow and promote the group. So far, their efforts appear to be paying off.
“We are proud that our younger members have taken such a strong interest in accepting this responsibility,” said Joe Hembree, 2007 SAR President. “Our youthful members definitely need to be given an opportunity to make their voice heard in the SAR direction and initiatives. We want to be a balanced organization, and strive to bring new faces, voices and opinions to the mix. This is a big part of the reason for the formation of the Sarasota Young Realtors® group, and they’ve taken the ball and run with it.”
The mission statement created by the group’s leadership provides a good testament to their goals and strategies: “The mission of the Sarasota Young Realtors® is to support and advocate the interest of the young Sarasota real estate professionals. The Sarasota Young Realtors® will be an organization of advocacy that utilizes the strengths, talents, and leadership of its members to build value and lasting relationships with our community through professional development, networking and sharing of information.”
Anthony Homer of Hembree & Associates, vice-chair of the organization, said the impetus for creating the group was “to identify and promote the young people in our area who will lead the Sarasota Association of Realtors® in the next five to 10 years.” Chair Dave Beachy of Beachy Properties noted the Young Realtors® group believes networking is key to establishing a presence in the area and creating relationships that help further the overall mission.
“Our meetings and events are designed to get people together to establish vital contacts and business relationships,” said Beachy. “The social gatherings are also a lot of fun, but there is definitely a business motivation behind them.”
“We represent a group of hungry, energetic professionals in our industry, and we’re ready to make our mark,” said Shannon Rogers, also of Beachy Properties.
Establishing credibility and gaining a solid track record of experience is also important to the next generation of local real estate professionals. Through the creation of the new group and its strong ties to the SAR and the current leadership of the Association, the Sarasota Young Realtors® are bridging the generations. The knowledge and insights they are gaining from the older, more established Realtors®, plus the ongoing professional development courses ensure that the future will be bright for local real estate.
Of course, overcoming one hurdle is crucial to achieving success – the built-in bias against youth.
“I’ve had a few potential clients ask me if I was really old enough to have a real estate license,” said Christina Pitchford Perez. “I take it in stride and it motivates me to prove that I have the knowledge and skills to walk people through a transaction.”
In fact, Perez noted, those who have questioned her age have all become her most valued clients. One even nominated her for the prestigious Sarasota Magazine FIVE
STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction 2007 award, based on his impression of her dedication, market and procedural knowledge, and negotiation skills.
What has been the feedback from the group’s formation?
“It's been very positive,” said Anthony Homer. “We had a great turn-out for the kick-off and are using the momentum to build the group and make it very member-centric. We try to make every decision in the light of the impact it’s going to have on the individual Realtor®. “
Jenny Alday, another member of the SYR committee, noted the group is already a viable and vibrant element of the SAR.
“I feel that the young Realtor® group will be a success because our committee is very motivated and committed. We are all striving for success and we want to help others achieve that goal too.”
One big advantage many of the younger members of SAR have is their familiarity with the latest, greatest technological tools so prevalent in today’s industry. Having grown up with more advanced computers, the Internet, cell phones and PDAs, the younger Realtors® are comfortable and highly capable. In fact, many of them find themselves acting as their office IT person when the IT person is away. Helping to train other, older real estate professionals in the new technologies comes with the territory, the SYR leadership noted.
“It really pays off to be on the cutting edge of technology,” explained Anthony Homer. “That’s where the future of business is, and it’s where you need to be in order to be successful.”
And that’s where the Sarasota Young Realtors® group is – on the cutting edge, aimed at success, and always striving to gain the experience so necessary for effective leadership.
